President Donald Trump early Saturday urged the Iranian people to “take over your government,” declaring, “The hour of your freedom is at hand,” as the United States and Israel launched coordinated military strikes on Iran in what officials described as a preemptive effort to dismantle Tehran’s nuclear program.
The joint assault began in the early hours of Thursday, February 28, targeting three primary nuclear enrichment facilities — Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan. Explosions were reported in Tehran, while air raid sirens sounded across Israel as a precaution. Israel closed its airspace to all civilian flights as the operation unfolded. The U.S. military referred to the campaign as “Operation Epic Fury.”
In an eight-minute video posted to Truth Social at approximately 2:30 a.m. ET, Trump confirmed direct U.S. involvement, stating that American forces had initiated “major combat operations in Iran.” He characterized the strikes as a “massive and ongoing operation” aimed at eliminating what he described as imminent threats from Iran’s regime, including its nuclear capabilities and missile infrastructure.
Trump claimed the attacks had “completely and totally obliterated” Iran’s key nuclear enrichment facilities.
During the address, the president accused Iran of conducting an “unending campaign of bloodshed and mass murder” against the United States and its allies. He further alleged that Iran had been secretly rebuilding its nuclear program despite previous U.S. strikes carried out in 2025.
Trump acknowledged that American casualties were possible but said the objective was to defend U.S. national security interests. He urged Iranian civilians to remain indoors during the strikes and appealed directly to the country’s armed forces to lay down their weapons.
The coordinated action followed months of planning between U.S. and Israeli forces after diplomatic negotiations in Geneva failed to produce an agreement. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed Israel’s participation in a separate video statement, thanking Trump and describing the operation as necessary to remove what he called the “existential threat” posed by Iran’s regime.
U.S. military officials indicated the operation could span several days, with additional targets including Iranian missile sites and naval assets.
Iran responded by vowing retaliation, stating it would strike U.S. military bases and Israel if attacked further.
Trump’s announcement capped weeks of rising tensions between Washington and Tehran, during which the president warned that Iran must halt its nuclear activities or face consequences. The strikes were presented as a response to what officials described as Iran’s alleged efforts to develop missiles capable of reaching the United States.
The situation remains fluid as both sides assess the immediate aftermath of the coordinated strikes.
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